As of Monday, all Michigan residents 16 years and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
But many are skeptical about coronavirus vaccines, especially since they were developed in record time.
How to Find a Vaccine in COVID-19 in Michigan
Below is a closer look at the vaccine, what we know and what we do not know.
Myth: the vaccine will give you COVID-19.
Fact: None of the vaccines used in the US involve the injection of the virus itself, and it is impossible to obtain COVID-19 from any of the three vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It is true that historical vaccines have elicited an immune response by injecting attenuated living cells or dead cells of the virus into an individual.
But two of the vaccines approved so far – the Pfizer and Moderna shots – use a revolutionary new process. These mRNA vaccines cause our cells to make a protein that causes the production of antibodies that protect us against the COVID-19 infection.
“It makes your body foolish to create a small part of the virus, and then your body creates antibodies against that small part,” said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan, a division of Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, said. said MLive in December. “It’s amazing and it’s very different from all the vaccinations we’ve used before. It is actually much more elegant and makes a lot of sense.
“This is the first time you’re using the body’s own machinery to make those pieces,” Elmouchi said. ‘The reason it’s so effective is that your body will make a lot of the pieces – and the more exposure to the pieces that are not dangerous to you, the more antibodies you will make. Therefore, we get the efficiency of 95%.
He and others have said that scientists have been working on this technique for a decade, but this is the first time it has been used for a vaccine.
The Johnson & Johnson shot uses a different technique. It also uses a genetic code to stimulate an immune response, but this vaccine delivers it via a cold virus genetically engineered adenovirus 26. (The cold virus is modified so that it can not cool people and does not spread in the body.)
Myth: The vaccine was developed too quickly to trust its safety.
Fact: The cut-off timeline for vaccine development involved bureaucratic and manufacturing processes, doctors say.
In fact, the COVID-19 has undergone the same safety process as other vaccines, and actual use in recent months has proven that the vaccines are safe and effective.
So why were they able to develop the vaccines so quickly?
For openers, scientists have developed the genetic code for the virus almost immediately. It was available in February 2020.
Second, the high number of COVID cases in summer and autumn meant that clinical trials went faster than expected because people in the placebo group became ill faster than expected.
“Remember, the trial must prove that people who get the vaccine do not get the disease and the placebo people get it,” Elmouchi told MLive in December. “Well, if you have so much disease, you can prove it much faster.”
Also, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson all started manufacturing the vaccine while it was still FDA approved, with the understanding that the doses would have to be discontinued if the vaccine was not approved. This means that the distribution of the vaccines can begin as soon as the FDA approves them.
Myth: The vaccine will change your DNA.
Fact: Not true.
‘The mRNA in the vaccines does not integrate with the body’s DNA and does not enter the nucleus. The mRNA vaccines cause the body’s cells to create the peak proteins used by the coronavirus to infect healthy cells, but not the coronavirus itself. This is what triggers an immune response, which trains your body to defend against the virus, ‘says a fact sheet from McLaren Flint Hospital.
Myth: The different vaccines vary in effectiveness.
Fact: Clinical trials found an efficacy rate of 95% for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, compared to 67% for the J&J shot.
However, experts believe that this is an apple-to-oranges comparison because the J&J did its clinical trials later than the other two when COVID-19 variants emerged. And among the countries where J&J tested the vaccine were South Africa and Brazil, which have particularly problematic variants.
In addition, the clinical trials showed that the J&J shot was comparable to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to prevent severe cases of coronavirus that could lead to hospitalization or death. The lower percentage for J&J was with respect to symptomatic diseases, including the more common mild cases.
The J&J shot has an advantage over the other two as it is only one shot, which is more comfortable for both providers and patients. It also means that individuals who receive the J&J shot within two weeks are completely immune compared to the five- or six-week process for the other two vaccines.
Myth: The vaccine has dangerous side effects.
Fact: The vaccines may have side effects, such as headache, fatigue and / or fever, especially after the second dose. However, the symptoms usually disappear after 24 hours, and this is a sign that the vaccine is properly stimulating an immune response.
There are some isolated cases of people who have a severe reaction to the vaccine, and people are usually people with a history of severe allergic reactions. People with a history of vaccination response should consult their physician before being vaccinated.
But in general, the health risks of coronavirus are ‘astronomically higher’ than those associated with the vaccines, says Dr. Liam Sullivan, a Grand Rapids infectious disease specialist with Spectrum Health.
Consider this: in the past month, there were 1.3 million Michigan residents vaccinated compared to about 85,000 who contracted coronavirus. The 2,600 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 and the 558 deaths reported since March 1 are due to the latter, not the former.
And even people who are not admitted to the hospital run the risk of a ‘long’ COVID. It is estimated that 10% to 30% of coronavirus patients have persistent symptoms that last for weeks or months.
Myth: People who have already had coronavirus do not need to be vaccinated.
Fact. Untrue.
Having COVID-19 does create natural immunity, but experts do not yet know exactly how long the natural immunity lasts.
There have been many reported cases of people being infected with COVID-19 more than once, and this is especially true with respect to the various strains that are now circulating.
The Federal Centers for Disease Control strongly recommends vaccines for those who have recovered from COVID-19.
Myth: Once you have been vaccinated, you do not need a mask.
Fact: It takes a while before the vaccine kicks in, and even after that you will sometimes have to wear a mask.
Full immunity occurs approximately two weeks after your final dose. This is a six-week trial for the Moderna shot, a five-week trial for the Pfizer vaccine and two weeks after the single J&J shot.
Even once you are considered completely immune, you should realize that the vaccine is about reducing risks and not about eliminating them.
This means that your chances of contracting COVID are significantly reduced, and even if you become infected, the vaccine significantly reduces the chances of you having a serious case. That being said, the risk is not zero.
Once you are completely immune, you can go without a mask if you are with others who have also been vaccinated or are at low risk for serious diseases because they are healthy and younger than 65. However, you should continue to wear a mask if you We are in a public place with strangers or a private event where you do not know the health status of everyone in the room.
Myth: The vaccine causes miscarriages and / or infertility.
Fact: There are no studies that show this.
At this stage, there are no data showing that the vaccines pose a danger to pregnant women. That said, safety data is limited and ongoing regarding this particular population.
One argument for being vaccinated, especially given the high coronavirus transmission rates in Michigan, is this now: pregnant people are at increased risk for serious COVID-19 diseases compared to non-pregnant people. That serious illness can result in admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation, or death. In addition, pregnant people with COVID-19 may have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, compared to pregnant women without COVID-19, according to the research.
In addition, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can transmit antibodies to their child, according to a recent study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The CDC suggests that pregnant women talk to their doctor when weighing the pros and cons of vaccination.
Myth: You need to get a COVID-19 amplifier every year.
Fact: Can be. But we do not know yet.
Perhaps the biggest question mark around the vaccines: How long will the immunity last?
It will take time to tell, experts say. Some vaccines provide lifelong immunity, but more often a boost shot is needed, and it is possible that people will need to be vaccinated regularly against coronavirus.
It is also possible to use boost shots to protect against variants.
Myth: the decision of an individual whether he wants to vaccinate has no influence on others.
Fact: Vaccinations protect not only the individual but also the people around them. People who decide not to stay vaccinated will still be able to transmit the virus, and there is still a chance that they could infect a vaccinated friend or family member.
The fastest and most effective way to bring about herd immunity and end the pandemic is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible.
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